We’ve been on a family holiday, staying in East Sussex, and exploring parts of Sussex and Kent.  The idea for our trip came from a book I listened to via Audible, Treachery by S. J. Parris, which was set in Canterbury.  I was last in Canterbury over 30 years ago, and I was keen to return with my husbad and son who had never visited the area. As a family we’ve always chosen holiday destinations with lots of history to explore.

This is Bodium Castle, a lovely ruin, complete with moat.

We visited on Sunday, and the weather was hot and sunny.  They have a transport buggy to take disabled visitors between the car park and the castle.  After Bodium we went to have a look at the town of Battle, where the Normans defeated King Harold in 1066.  There is a ruined Abbey in Battle, and the small town is picturesque with interesting, independent shops.

We had a short visit on the Sunday, then returned later in the week to explore it further.

Our visit to Canterbury was also on a warm, sunny day.  I had found out in advance that Canterbury has a Shopmobility service, so we started our visit by hiring a scooter.  Their scheme is excellent for visitors, as there’s no need to become a member; it costs £6.00 to hire the scooter for a day, which includes 3 hours free parking.  Canterbury Cathedral has a well thought out route for wheelchair and scooter users, including a lift to the choir, making the whole building accessible.  I was impressed with the effort that has been put into making such an ancient building user friendly for disabled people. It is as beautiful as I had remembered, and well worth a visit.